Device for applying tension to a running yarn

ABSTRACT

A part supported adjacent the path of linear movement of a running yarn having a substantially flat yieldable surface broadside to the yarn at one side and a rigid part magnetically supported against the aforesaid yieldable surface at the opposite side of the yarn having spaced-parallel ribs transversed to the direction of linear movement of the yarn, said parts collectively applying a light tensional drag to the linear movement of the yarn while permitting the yarn to be moved laterally at right angles to its direction of linear movement.

United States Patent Abbott [45] Feb. 15, 1972 [54] DEVICE FOR APPLYING TENSION T0 3,168,992 2/1965 Zollinger A RUNNING YARN 3,281,088 10/1966 Matsui etal..

3,297,264 l/l967 Gilbos 242/150 X [72] Inventor: Samuel L. Abbott, Wilton, N.H. [731 Assignee; Abbou Machine cn., lne., wilren, Nil. FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICAUONS 1,161,662 3/1958 France ..242/149 [22] Fled- ^g 2 1969 443,085 1/1968 switzerland 242/316 [2l] Appl. No.; 851,674

Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Attorney-Roberts, Cushman & Grover [52] U.S. Cl. 242/355 R, 242/356 R, 242/149,

242/150 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. B65h 54/24, B65h 59/22 I I [58] Field efseereh ..242/35.5, 35.6, 147, 149, 15o, A Pan Supported adlacem the Path 0f mear movement 0f a 242/45 150 M running yarn having a substantially flat yieldable surface broadside to the yarn at one side and a rigid part magnetically 6 R i supported against the aforesaid yieldable surface at the op- [5 e cremes Cited posite side of the yam having spaced-parallel ribs transversed UNITED STATES PATENTS to the direction of linear movement of the yarn, said parts collectively applying a light tensional drag to the linear move- 2,281,204 4/ 1942 Raymond ..242/149X mem of the yam while permitting the yam to be moved 2,339,854 1/ l 944 Hggms "242/149 X laterally at right angles to its direction of linear movement. 2,650,043 8/1953 Greln 242/150 M 2,842,321 7/1958 Keith....... ..242/45 8Claims,6Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR APPLYING TENSION TO A RUNNING YARN BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION When the yarn package in a travelling spindle winding machine such as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 2,177,763, becomes exhausted it is replaced with a fresh package at a replenishing station where there is means for tying the trailing end of the yarn just removed from the exhausted package to the leading end of the fresh package. At this time there is considerable slack in the yam and it is desirable to impart some tension to the yarn in order to make it thread into the tensioning means carried by the winding head prior to winding. Heretofore the drag of the balloon and a plow-in wire have been relied upon to impart a little capstan tension between the balloon and the bottom yarn guide to apply the desired tension. It would be desirable, however, to run the yarn as it passes through the replenishing station into a tensioning device, unfortunately, however, it is necessary to hold the yarn on both sides to apply such tension and anything mounted on the stationary part of the machine at the replenishment station would be struck by the travelling winding heads as they passed through the station. Furthermore, anything mounted on each of the winding heads to apply the desired tension to the yarn would interfere with normal winding, would be expensive and would involve mechanical complications. It is accordingly the purpose of this invention to provide a device for applying an initial tension to the yarn following tying at the replenishing station and prior to winding which will not interfere in any way with the normal operation of the winder or involve expensive and/or costly redesign.

SUMMARY As herein illustrated the device comprises a fixed member having a surface adjacent the course of the running yarn over which the yarn travelled and a floating member magnetically supported against the fixed member, the floating member having a surface confronting that of the fixed member, at the opposite of the yarn which in conjunction with the fixed member applies frictional resistance to linear movement of the yarn. The confronting surfaces of the members comprise a substantially uniformally flat yieldable surface and a surface on which there are spaced-parallel ribs transversed to the direction in movement of the running yarn.

The invention will not be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawing.

FIG. l is a fragmentary side elevation showing a multiple spindle winding machine upon which this device is adapted to be used.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevation of one end of the machine shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is plan view of the device to much larger scale taken with line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an elevation of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

For the purpose of illustrating but without limitation the invention will be described herein with reference to a multiple head winding machine such as shown in the U.S. Pat. No. 2,177,763. Referring to the drawing FIGS. l and 2, which illustrate only the components of the aforesaid machine which are necessary to an understanding of the present invention there is shown a supporting frame l0 on which are mounted in vertically spaced parallel relation upper and lower guide rail I2 and I4 along which winding carriers 16 are adapted to be moved and are conveyed by an endless chain 18. Each carrier is flexibly connected to the chain so as to enable it to be moved circularly about the frame. Near the lower end of each carrier there is a supporting peg or spindle for mounting a yarn package comprising a core on which the yarn is wound. At the upper part of each carrier 16 there are tension discs 22-22, yarn guide means 24-24, a slub catcher 26 and a winding spindle 28 for receiving the cone on which the yarn drawn from the package mounted on the spindle 20 is to be wound. The spindle 28 is mounted on an arm 32 which is pivoted at 34 so as to be movable to bring the cone and yarn being wound thereon to rest on the surface of a tractor roll 36 by means of which the package may be rotated. A traversing cam 38 also driven by contact with the tractor roll 34 provides for traversing the yarn uniformly from end to end of the package as the package is rotated. For a cylindrical package the spindle 28 is mounted in a horizontal position parallel to the tractor roll 34 and for a conical package a spindle 28 is mounted at an angle to the tractor roll 34.

As stated above in machines of this kind each winding head travels during winding successively past a replenishing station at which there is a magazine M containing a supply of fresh packages and if the package on a winding head when it arrives at the replenishing station is exhausted the empty cone is doffed and a new or fresh package of yarn is automatically supplied by the magazine and dropped onto the spindle 20. Simultaneously the end of the yarn on the package being wound and the end of the yarn on the fresh package are found and tied. At this point there is slack in the yarn and it is desirable to impart some tension to the newly tied yarn before the winding operation begins to cause it to be drawn into the tensioning discs 22-22. To effect such tension without interfering with the continued travel of the winding heads and in accordance with this invention there is mounted on a fixed part of the frame at the replenishing station the friction engendering device of this invention. The device is supported by a bracket arm 42 bolted at one end to the frame outwardly of the travelling winding heads and extends inwardly toward the path of travel of the winding heads. The device FIGS. 3 and 6 comprises fixed and movable parts 44 and 46. The fixed part 44 is a magnet 48 of horseshoe cross section mounted between a pair of spaced-parallel guide plates 50-50 bolted together with the magnet between them by means of bolts 52-52, and with insulators 54-54 between the ends of the magnet and the guide plates. The magnet 48 is fastened to a flange 56 at the inner end of the bracket arm by bolts 58-58. The magnet is thus supported with its poles 60-60 situated in a substantially perpendicular plane adjacent to the outer side of the path along which the winding heads are travelling so that the yarn being wound by each head travels laterally by the magnet from one pole to the other while at the same time travelling at right angles to the common center line of the poles. A piece of sponge rubber 62 or its equivalent is stretched taut across the poles and fastened at its opposite ends to the sides of the magnet by means of anchor plates 64-64 secured by bolts 66- 66. The piece of sponge rubber corresponds substantially in depth to the corresponding dimensions of the magnet and provides a yieldable surface 68 located in broadside relation to the path oftravel of the winding heads.

The movable part 46 comprises a rigid steel plate 70 narrower in width than the sponge rubber piece and has on the side facing the poles of the magnet spaced-parallel ribs 72-72 of half-circular section. The plate 70 when placed opposite the poles of the magnet 48 is held against the surface of the sponge rubber without other support. The confronting surfaces to wit the yielding surface 68 of the sponge rubber piece and the ribs 72-72 of the steel plate 70 provide frictional resistance to linear movement of the yarn therebetween as it travels linearly between them in the direction of winding which is relatively light but sufficient to draw the yarn into the tensioning discs 22-22 and at the same time permits the yarn to move bodily in a lateral direction between the surfaces as the winding heads travel through the replenishing station around the frame.

By employing a relatively strong magnet and by providing engaging surfaces which are relatively long in the direction of lateral movement of the yarn between the surfaces the yarn because of its small diameter never moves the plate 70 away from the poles of the magnet far enough to nullify its holding power. In fact, what probably happens is that the yarn merely progressively displaces the yieldable surface of the sponge rubber piece as it travels laterally between the surfaces without moving the steel plate away from its substantially parallel position with respect to the poles of the magnet and hence without loss of the holding power of the magnet.

To assist in guiding the yarn during its lateral movement the guide plates 50-50 are provided with prolongations 50a- 50a extending in the direction toward which the yarn winding heads are approaching the device and the steel plate 70 is provided with a similar prolongation 70a. The edges 50b50b of the prolongation 50a-50a and the confronting side of the prolongation 70a diverge and provide a throat into which the yarn enters and is guided between the parts.

The device as described affords means for applying a very light frictional drag to the linear movement of the running yarn in the direction of winding and so although designed especially for a travelling spindle winder because it permits lateral movement of the yarn with the winding head as it travels around the machine can also be used on a stationary winder or in any yarn handling apparatus where it is desirable to apply a very light frictional resistance to linear movement of a running yarn being processed without having to employ the more conventional and more complicated yarn tensioning discs which require special supporting structure and special adjustments.

lclaim:

l, ln a travelling spindle winding machine wherein winding heads travel along a predetermined path relative to a replenishing station where empty yarn carrying bobbins are replaced with filled yarn carrying bobbins, and wherein each winding head has a first spindle for holding a bobbin from which yarn is to be unwound and a second spindle for holding a bobbin onto which yarn is to be wound and wherein there is means for tying the leading end of the yarn on the bobbin from which yarn is being unwound to the trailing end of the yarn on the bobbin upon which yarn is being wound and wherein a tensioning device is located between the spindles in the path of travel of the yarn to impart tension to the yarn, a yarn restrainer located at said replenishing station in a position to intercept the newly tied yarn prior to entrance of the yarn into the tensioning device to apply sufficient tension thereto to cause it to enter said tensioning device, said restrainer comprising parts having confronting surfaces between which the yarn is adapted to travel laterally as the head moves through the replenishing station and is frictionally engaged to constrain linear movement of the yarn in the direction of winding, one of said surfaces being rigid and the others yieldable, magnetic means holding said parts with their confronting surfaces engaged with the running yarn and means supporting one of the parts on a fixed part of the machine at said replenishing station adjacent the path of movement of the winding heads as they travel along said predetermined paths said other part being supported in operative position by said magnetic means.

2. The combination with a plurality of winding assemblies movable relative to a replenishing station, each winding assembly embodying means for moving a yarn along a linear path from one package to another through tensioning means situated therebetween, while the assemblies are moving laterally substantially at right angles to the path of linear movement of the yarn through said replenishing station, a

device at the replenishing station for frictionally applying restraint to the linear movement of the yarn travelling along said linear path to draw the yarn into said tensioner while permitting it to be moved laterally, comprising members having surfaces arranged in confronting relation at opposite sides of the yarn such that the yarn is free to travel laterally between said surfaces from one side to the other and to travel linearly between said surfaces at right angles to such lateral move` ment, means mounting one of the members at the replenishing station in a fixed position adjacent the path along which the winding assemblies are moving relative to the replenishing station, and magnetic means operating exclusively to hold said members with said confronting surfaces engaged with the opposite sides of the yarn:

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one member has a uniformly flat surface and the other has spaced-parallel ribs thereon transverse to the direction of movement of the running yarn.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one member has a uniformly flat surface which is yieldable and the other has a rigid unyielding surface provided with spaced-parallel ribs transverse to the direction of movement of the running yarn.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fixed member has a surface comprised of a piece of sponge rubber secured thereto and the other has a rigid unyielding surface with ribs thereon transverse to the direction of movement of the running yarn.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the members at the side toward which the winding assemblies are moving have divergent surfaces for intercepting and guiding the yarn between said confronting surfaces.

7. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein one member comprises a magnet having spaced poles and a piece of nonmagnetic material stretched taut across said poles and the other member is a rigid steel plate.

8. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein one member comprises a magnet of U-shaped cross section and a pair of flat plates secured to opposite ends of the magnet in spacedparallel relation with insulation situated between said plates and the ends of the magnet and with the edges of the plates transverse to the direction of linear movement of the yarn and steel plate and wherein said edges of the pair of flat plates and the surface of the rigid plate diverge at one end and in conjunction provide a throat for receiving and guiding the yarn into and between the confronting surfaces. 

1. In a travelling spindle winding machine wherein winding heads travel along a predetermined path relative to a replenishing station where empty yarn carrying bobbins are replaced with filled yarn carrying bobbins, and wherein each winding head has a first spindle for holding a bobbin from which yarn is to be unwound and a second spindle for holding a bobbin onto which yarn is to be wound and wherein there is means for tying the leading end of the yarn on the bobbin from which yarn is being unwound to the trailing end of the yarn on the bobbin upon which yarn is being wound and wherein a tensioning device is located between the spindles in the path of travel of the yarn to impart tension to the yarn, a yarn restrainer located at said replenishing station in a position to intercept the newly tied yarn prior to entrance of the yarn into the tensioning device to apply sufficient tension thereto to cause it to enter said tensioning device, said restrainer comprising parts Having confronting surfaces between which the yarn is adapted to travel laterally as the head moves through the replenishing station and is frictionally engaged to constrain linear movement of the yarn in the direction of winding, one of said surfaces being rigid and the others yieldable, magnetic means holding said parts with their confronting surfaces engaged with the running yarn and means supporting one of the parts on a fixed part of the machine at said replenishing station adjacent the path of movement of the winding heads as they travel along said predetermined paths said other part being supported in operative position by said magnetic means.
 2. The combination with a plurality of winding assemblies movable relative to a replenishing station, each winding assembly embodying means for moving a yarn along a linear path from one package to another through tensioning means situated therebetween, while the assemblies are moving laterally substantially at right angles to the path of linear movement of the yarn through said replenishing station, a device at the replenishing station for frictionally applying restraint to the linear movement of the yarn travelling along said linear path to draw the yarn into said tensioner while permitting it to be moved laterally, comprising members having surfaces arranged in confronting relation at opposite sides of the yarn such that the yarn is free to travel laterally between said surfaces from one side to the other and to travel linearly between said surfaces at right angles to such lateral movement, means mounting one of the members at the replenishing station in a fixed position adjacent the path along which the winding assemblies are moving relative to the replenishing station, and magnetic means operating exclusively to hold said members with said confronting surfaces engaged with the opposite sides of the yarn.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one member has a uniformly flat surface and the other has spaced-parallel ribs thereon transverse to the direction of movement of the running yarn.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one member has a uniformly flat surface which is yieldable and the other has a rigid unyielding surface provided with spaced-parallel ribs transverse to the direction of movement of the running yarn.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fixed member has a surface comprised of a piece of sponge rubber secured thereto and the other has a rigid unyielding surface with ribs thereon transverse to the direction of movement of the running yarn.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the members at the side toward which the winding assemblies are moving have divergent surfaces for intercepting and guiding the yarn between said confronting surfaces.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein one member comprises a magnet having spaced poles and a piece of nonmagnetic material stretched taut across said poles and the other member is a rigid steel plate.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein one member comprises a magnet of U-shaped cross section and a pair of flat plates secured to opposite ends of the magnet in spaced-parallel relation with insulation situated between said plates and the ends of the magnet and with the edges of the plates transverse to the direction of linear movement of the yarn and steel plate and wherein said edges of the pair of flat plates and the surface of the rigid plate diverge at one end and in conjunction provide a throat for receiving and guiding the yarn into and between the confronting surfaces. 